---
title: Polls
---

import {Steps, TabItem, Tabs} from "@astrojs/starlight/components";

import FlattenedSteps from "../../components/FlattenedSteps.astro";
import ZulipNote from "../../components/ZulipNote.astro";
import ZulipTip from "../../components/ZulipTip.astro";
import PollsExamples from "../include/_PollsExamples.mdx";
import PollsIntro from "../include/_PollsIntro.mdx";
import StartComposing from "../include/_StartComposing.mdx";

import CheckIcon from "~icons/fa/check";
import PencilIcon from "~icons/fa/pencil";
import RemoveIcon from "~icons/fa/remove";
import GripVerticalIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/grip-vertical";
import PollIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/poll";
import SendIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/send";
import TrashIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/trash";

<PollsIntro />

## Create a poll

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Via compose box button">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Make sure the compose box is empty.
      1. Click the **Add poll** (<PollIcon />) icon at
         the bottom of the compose box.
      1. Fill out poll information as desired, and click **Add poll** to insert poll
         formatting.
      1. Click the **Send** (<SendIcon />) button, or
         use a [keyboard shortcut](/help/configure-send-message-keys) to send your
         message.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <ZulipTip>
      To reorder the list of options, click and drag the **vertical dots**
      (<GripVerticalIcon />) to the left of each
      option. To delete an option, click the **delete**
      (<TrashIcon />) icon to the right of it.
    </ZulipTip>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Via Markdown">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Make sure the compose box is empty.
      1. Type `/poll` followed by a space, and the question you want to ask.
      1. *(optional)* Type each option on a new line.
      1. Click the **Send** (<SendIcon />) button, or
         use a [keyboard shortcut](/help/configure-send-message-keys) to send your
         message.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <ZulipTip>
      You will be able to add options after the poll is created.
    </ZulipTip>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Add options to a poll

<ZulipNote>
  To preserve the meaning of votes in the poll, existing poll options cannot
  be modified.
</ZulipNote>

<Steps>
  1. Fill out the **New option** field at the bottom of the poll.
  1. Click **Add option** or press <kbd>Enter</kbd> to add the new option to
     the poll.
</Steps>

## Edit the question

<ZulipNote>
  Only the creator of a poll can edit the question.
</ZulipNote>

<Steps>
  1. Click the **pencil** (<PencilIcon />) icon
     to the right of the question.
  1. Edit the question as desired.
  1. Click the **checkmark** (<CheckIcon />) icon or press
     <kbd>Enter</kbd> to save your changes.
</Steps>

<ZulipTip>
  You can click the <RemoveIcon /> icon or press
  <kbd>Esc</kbd> to discard your changes.
</ZulipTip>

## Examples

<PollsExamples />

## Related articles

* [Message formatting](/help/format-your-message-using-markdown)
* [Collaborative to-do lists](/help/collaborative-to-do-lists)
